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Saudi women granted right to vote, but still can't drive

by Patt Morrison

Saudi women wait for their drivers outside a shopping mall in Riyadh on September 26, 2011 a day after King Abdullah granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections, in a historic first for the ultra-conservative country where women are subjected to many restrictions. FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images

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King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia granted women the right to vote, Sunday, after consulting with religious clerics. The decision is being hailed as a significant symbolic concession. Yet, elections are rare in the Saudi kingdom. A vote that has been delayed since 2009 will be held Thursday, but Saudi women won’t be able to participate in municipal elections until 2015.

Meanwhile, women are still prohibited from driving in Saudi Arabia, must be accompanied by a male guardian and are expected to be covered head-to-toe in public. In a country where very little political expression is allowed for women or men, how significant is the change in women’s daily lives?

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About Patt Morrison

Patt Morrison is a live two-hour public affairs show. The program is known for its innovative discussions of local politics and culture, and for its presentation of national and world news as it affects Southern California.